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shadow_cat94's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I found this book quite enjoyable. The voice of the author is written as e-mails to tell the story so the flow of book and the way it's written could be argued to be stylistic rather than the authentic voice and work of the author themselves. I'd have to read more of her work before determining if I'd rate this lower for the writing itself.
The characters, however, were very diverse yet fun. I found Gamrah's self-pity and unfounded pride to be annoying, but her situation was understandable and realistic. Lamees was such a cutie and a nice bubbly personality that I found refreshing against all the blue moods of the other girls. I loved her ending and was so happy for her! Michelle was an interesting character to bring in the Western perspective against the Saudi culture directly as she was originally living in the U.S.A. before moving to Saudi Arabia. Sadeem I felt so bad for as she kept getting screwed over but she never let it stop her - just slow her down for a while.
The themes of this book are love, relationship, marriage and divorce, and the value of female friendships and support networks. The e-mail format that a lot of readers found pointless actually helped to add additional commentary to these themes outside the story told by the characters to paint a target on one of the topics to provide an opposing argument that exists in the Saudi culture which is either held by a majority of people, men, or people from a particular sect.
Overall, I thought that Al-Sanea did well in how she decided to paint this story with constant entertainment that made me want to grab a bowl of popcorn while also engaging in some serious topics that are important to the women of Saudi Arabia.
The characters, however, were very diverse yet fun. I found Gamrah's self-pity and unfounded pride to be annoying, but her situation was understandable and realistic. Lamees was such a cutie and a nice bubbly personality that I found refreshing against all the blue moods of the other girls. I loved her ending and was so happy for her! Michelle was an interesting character to bring in the Western perspective against the Saudi culture directly as she was originally living in the U.S.A. before moving to Saudi Arabia. Sadeem I felt so bad for as she kept getting screwed over but she never let it stop her - just slow her down for a while.
The themes of this book are love, relationship, marriage and divorce, and the value of female friendships and support networks. The e-mail format that a lot of readers found pointless actually helped to add additional commentary to these themes outside the story told by the characters to paint a target on one of the topics to provide an opposing argument that exists in the Saudi culture which is either held by a majority of people, men, or people from a particular sect.
Overall, I thought that Al-Sanea did well in how she decided to paint this story with constant entertainment that made me want to grab a bowl of popcorn while also engaging in some serious topics that are important to the women of Saudi Arabia.
Moderate: Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Classism
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Fatphobia
laurenleigh's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I love how The StoryGraph’s translated fiction challenge expands my horizons! This sweet novel was a fun ride, like a Saudi version of Sex and the City. It also had major Bridgerton vibes with the secret identity storyteller giving us all the hot gossip. I really appreciated how seamlessly the narrator included the footnotes, which helped me better understand elements of the Saudi Arabian culture. I can also tell the writer worked very closely with the translator. I didn’t love how the author’s introduction told me what she wanted me to feel after reading this, but damn it she was totally spot on! (I’m just a stubborn Aries sometimes lol.) I know Saudi culture, especially for women, is externally very different than here in America. But internally, we’re all humans wanting to love and be loved. Despite our differences, these relationships were so relatable at their core. In the early 2000’s, I too could feel that double standard where I was expected to be smart and capable, but not too independent and outspoken, so as to not threaten or intimidate men. I too came up against that bullshit “sexy/slutty” boundary. I have a lot of love for these characters, as they explored these issues in their own lives in a deeply patriarchal society.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism
Minor: Death of parent and Pregnancy